Quick verdict
Plastic caps that clip over the terminal end of Makita 18V LXT packs, the BL1830, BL1840, BL1850, BL1860 and BL1890, to keep sawdust, soil, moisture and loose metal off the contacts in a tool bag or a truck. Makita ships packs without covers and the open terminals are where grit shorts a pack or corrodes a contact. Packs of 3, 5 or 10 cover a collection. They fit the LXT 18V family and not the 12V or 40V XGT packs.
Strengths
- Keeps grit and moisture off exposed battery terminals
- Prevents a stray screw or key shorting the pack in a bag
- Clips on and off in a second
- Packs of 3, 5 or 10 to suit a collection
- Fits the whole Makita 18V LXT family
Weaknesses
- Makita 18V LXT only; not 12V CXT or 40V XGT
- Plastic clips loosen after many removals
- Easy to lose when the pack is on the tool
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Open Terminals in the Bag
A Makita 18V pack comes with no cover over its terminals, and in a tool bag those terminals sit against screws, keys and the odd nail. A short trips the protection or worse, and grit and damp corrode the contacts. YobiLife’s caps clip over the terminal end of any 18V LXT pack, BL1830 through BL1890, and come in packs of 3, 5 or 10.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how terminal covers protect slide packs generally. We have not used these covers ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Why It Matters
Lithium packs have protection boards and still do not like being shorted. A metal object across the terminals in a bag causes a current spike the board must catch, and a repeated one can damage the pack. Grit in the contacts makes the tool cut out under load; moisture greens the brass. A plastic cap stops all three, which is why Makita’s own competitors ship caps and why owners buy them for Makita.
Fit
The caps are moulded to the LXT 18V terminal housing and clip on with a push. They fit the compact BL1815 and BL1820 as well as the big BL1850 and BL1860, and the BL1890. They do not fit the 12V CXT or the 40V XGT, which have different housings.
Using Them
Cap every pack that is not on a tool or a charger: in the bag, in the truck, on the shelf through winter. Clip the cap to the spare when the pack goes on the tool. Caps get lost, which is the argument for the ten pack.
Durability
Plastic clips wear with hundreds of cycles and a cap eventually sits loose. Replace it; they cost almost nothing.
Who Should Buy It
- Makita 18V owners carrying packs in bags and trucks.
- Anyone storing spare packs on a shelf for the season.
- Landscapers with packs in dusty, damp conditions.
Common Owner Complaints
Losing them and caps loosening after years. Buy ten; replace worn ones.
Technique Tips
Fit the cap the moment a pack comes off a tool and the habit sticks. Keep two spare caps in the bag pocket for the ones that fall into the truck bed. Before capping a pack for winter storage, check the terminals are clean and dry, since a cap seals damp in as well as out.
Alternatives to Consider
A battery holder case that covers terminals and stores packs. A rubber band and a square of cardboard, which is what people do until they buy caps. Brand caps for other platforms.
Verdict
For a few dollars, terminal caps stop the short and the grit that end batteries early. Cap every spare Makita pack and keep the ten pack handy.
Full specifications
YobiLife Dustproof Protective Covers for Makita 18V BL1830 to BL1890 Lithium Batteries FAQs
A bare pack in a tool bag with screws, keys and a tape measure can short across its terminals, which at best trips the protection and at worst damages the pack. Dust and damp corrode the contacts and cause flaky connections.
Any Makita 18V LXT slide pack, including the BL18xx series. They do not fit the 12V CXT or the 40V XGT.
They clip on firmly. After many cycles the clips wear and a cap can loosen; at the price, replace it.
Clip it to the spare pack, or keep them in a pocket of the tool bag. Owners who lose caps buy the ten pack.
